Valve system and method

ABSTRACT

A valve system including a hydraulic pressure actuated valve in the borehole, a first control line extending into the borehole and operatively connected to the valve, a controller at a surface location and operatively connected to the first control line, the controller configured to meter a selected volume of hydraulic fluid into the first control line to actuate the valve to a specific position. A method for controlling inflow including metering a specific volume of actuation fluid, injecting that metered volume of fluid into a control line, and causing a valve to reposition to a specific position due to the metered volume of fluid injected thereto. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a valve system operatively connected to the borehole.

BACKGROUND

In the resource recovery industry and fluid sequestration industry there is interest in operating valves in the downhole environment to various conditions of choke. Commonly a choke control device is run in the hole along with or at least near the valve to be controlled. While the configuration works, it is costly to run and the art would well receive more efficient alternatives.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of a valve system including a hydraulic pressure actuated valve in the borehole, a first control line extending into the borehole and operatively connected to the valve, a controller at a surface location and operatively connected to the first control line, the controller configured to meter a selected volume of hydraulic fluid into the first control line to actuate the valve to a specific position.

An embodiment of a method for controlling inflow including metering a specific volume of actuation fluid, injecting that metered volume of fluid into a control line, and causing a valve to reposition to a specific position due to the metered volume of fluid injected thereto.

An embodiment of a borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a valve system operatively connected to the borehole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a valve system for a borehole as disclosed herein; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of components of the controller from FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a schematic view of a valve system 10 for a borehole 11 in a subsurface formation 13 is illustrated. The system 10 includes a valve 12, a surface located controller 14 and at least a first control line 16 connected between the controller 14 and the valve 12. Controller 14 is configured to meter a specific amount of hydraulic fluid that is known to move the valve a certain distance in order to produce a specific choked condition of the valve 12. By metering the fluid, one can be assured that the valve is moved by exactly the amount desired and therefore produces exactly the degree of choke desired. Additionally, there may be a second control line 18 that may be used to actuate the valve in the opposite direction or to enable the controller 14 to measure the returned fluid from the valve that was displaced upon the injection of metered fluid into the first control line 16. The volumes of metered injected fluid and returned fluid may be distinct from one another due to compressibility of the actuation fluid over hundreds or thousands of feet of control line. The controller 14 is configured to inject into one or more lines and to measure at one or more lines so that bidirectional control is available for all valves 12 in a particular architecture. Further, it is contemplated that “Common Close control line”, also known as “N+1 control line architecture” may be used in conjunction with the system 10 in order to operate more individual valves 12 with a reduced total number of control lines. The system 10 will otherwise operate the same way as stated, with metered fluid amount being injected into a control line that is connected to a side of a valve that will cause valve movement in the desired direction, that movement being a precise movement due to the metered actuation fluid injected thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2 , a schematic view of one arrangement for the controller 14 is illustrated. The illustration identifies a number of outlets/returns 30, a metering component 32 for injecting metered actuation fluid, a measuring component 34 for measuring returned fluid, a pressure source 36, which may be a pump; and a reservoir 38 for actuation fluid, for example, a hydraulic fluid. The components may all be located within the controller 14 or one or more may be located elsewhere at surface and operatively connected to the controller 14. Further, components 32 and 34 may be within the same structure 33 and may have their functions reversed. Also, in embodiments a manifold 35 may be provided that allows direction of fluid to certain ones of the outlets/returns 30.

It is also contemplated that a bypass 40 for actuation fluid also be included in system 10 so that in the event of difficulty with any components of controller 14, the bypass 40 may be employed to shift valves 12 downhole without the functions of the controller 14.

In use, the system 10 may act upon a program or live input and may or may not utilize sensors in the downhole environment as further assistance for selecting and establishing a desired level of choke for individual valves 12.

Set forth below are some embodiments of the foregoing disclosure:

Embodiment 1: A valve system including a hydraulic pressure actuated valve in the borehole, a first control line extending into the borehole and operatively connected to the valve, a controller at a surface location and operatively connected to the first control line, the controller configured to meter a selected volume of hydraulic fluid into the first control line to actuate the valve to a specific position.

Embodiment 2: The valve as in any prior embodiment further including a second control line connected between the controller and the valve.

Embodiment 3: The valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the controller is configured to measure a volume of hydraulic fluid returned from the valve.

Embodiment 4: The valve as in any prior embodiment wherein the controller meters a selected volume of fluid into the second control line and measures fluid returned from the valve in the first control line.

Embodiment 5: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the controller is bypassable at surface to contingency actuate the valve.

Embodiment 6: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the actuation is to full open or full closed.

Embodiment 7: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the controller includes a manifold.

Embodiment 8: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the manifold is connected to a number of control lines extending to one or more valves each.

Embodiment 9: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the controller includes a first metering configuration to measure the selected volume of fluid to be released into the first control line.

Embodiment 10: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the second control line is operative to actuate the valve in a direction opposite the direction of actuation of the first control line.

Embodiment 11: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the controller includes a second metering configuration to measure a selected volume of fluid to be released into the second control line.

Embodiment 12: The system as in any prior embodiment wherein the first metering configuration and second metering configuration are the same structure.

Embodiment 13: A method for controlling inflow including metering a specific volume of actuation fluid, injecting that metered volume of fluid into a control line, and causing a valve to reposition to a specific position due to the metered volume of fluid injected thereto.

Embodiment 14: The method as in any prior embodiment further including measuring actuation fluid returned from the valve due to injected fluid into the valve.

Embodiment 15: The method as in any prior embodiment wherein the specific position is a choked position.

Embodiment 16: A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a valve system as in any prior embodiment operatively connected to the borehole.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Further, it should be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” and the like herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. The terms “about”, “substantially” and “generally” are intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” and/or “substantially” and/or “generally” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.

The teachings of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of well operations. These operations may involve using one or more treatment agents to treat a formation, the fluids resident in a formation, a borehole, and/or equipment in the borehole, such as production tubing. The treatment agents may be in the form of liquids, gases, solids, semi-solids, and mixtures thereof. Illustrative treatment agents include, but are not limited to, fracturing fluids, acids, steam, water, brine, anti-corrosion agents, cement, permeability modifiers, drilling muds, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, tracers, flow improvers etc. Illustrative well operations include, but are not limited to, hydraulic fracturing, stimulation, tracer injection, cleaning, acidizing, steam injection, water flooding, cementing, etc.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A valve system, comprising: a hydraulic pressure actuated valve in the borehole; a first control line extending into the borehole and operatively connected to the valve; a controller at a surface location and operatively connected to the first control line, the controller configured to meter a selected volume of hydraulic fluid into the first control line to actuate the valve to a specific position.
 2. The valve as claimed in claim 1 further including a second control line connected between the controller and the valve.
 3. The valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to measure a volume of hydraulic fluid returned from the valve.
 4. The valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein the controller meters a selected volume of fluid into the second control line and measures fluid returned from the valve in the first control line.
 5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller is bypassable at surface to contingency actuate the valve.
 6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuation is to full open or full closed.
 7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller includes a manifold.
 8. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the manifold is connected to a number of control lines extending to one or more valves each.
 9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the controller includes a first metering configuration to measure the selected volume of fluid to be released into the first control line.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second control line is operative to actuate the valve in a direction opposite the direction of actuation of the first control line.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the controller includes a second metering configuration to measure a selected volume of fluid to be released into the second control line.
 12. The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first metering configuration and second metering configuration are the same structure.
 13. A method for controlling inflow comprising: metering a specific volume of actuation fluid; injecting that metered volume of fluid into a control line; and causing a valve to reposition to a specific position due to the metered volume of fluid injected thereto.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 13 further including measuring actuation fluid returned from the valve due to injected fluid into the valve.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the specific position is a choked position.
 16. A borehole system comprising: a borehole in a subsurface formation; a valve system as claimed in claim 1 operatively connected to the borehole. 